The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-21
A HEROIC NUN.
Extraordinary Record of Mother Mary Ter
esa, French Sister ofCharity.

Extraordinary Record of Mother Mary Ter
esa, French Sister of Charity.
Brooklyn Citizen.
In presence of all the French troops guarding
the capital of Tong-QuIn the Governor-general
recently bestowed the cross OF the Legion of
Honor a nun, Mother Mary Teresa, superior
ess of the Sisters of Charity in that empire The
troops were drawn up In the principal plaza of
the city in square surrounding platform on
which was the Governor General and his staff.
When an aide-decamp was sent to bring the
nun he found her in the hospital consoling a
soldier who was having his leg amputated She
refused to leave the bedside until the operation
completed and then followed the officer
the square, where she received by the Gen
eral in person and led I'D to the platform amid
the joyful EXPLANATIONS of the soldiers. The
General then commanded silence and in SOL
emn ald impressive tone addressed her as fol-
lows:
Mother Mary Teresa, when you were twenty
years OF age you received a wound from
non ball while assisting one of the wounded
on the field of Balaklava. In 1859 the shell
from q mitrailleuse laid you PROSTATE in the
front rank on the battlefield of Magenta. Since
then you have been IN Syria, In China, and in
Mexico. and If you were not wounded it
not because you have not exposed ycGrself to
the shot of gun and cannon and the sabres and
lances OF the enemy. In 1870 you were taken I'D
in Reischoffen covered with many sabre wounds
among heap of dead cuirassers. Such deeds
Of heroism you have crowned few weeks ago
with one of the most heroic actions which his
tory records. A grenade fell upon the ambu-
lance which was under your CHARGE it did not
BURST but lt might have done SO ut any moment
and caused new wounds in the bodies of those
who were already wounded; but there you were
you took up the grenade in your arms you
smiled upon the wounded who looked at you
with feelings of dismay, not for themselves but
for you, and you carried it away to a distance of
eighty metres. On laying it down you noticed
that it was going to burst; you threw yourself
the ground; it burst: you were seen covered
with blood, but when persons came to your
assistance you rose up smiling, as is your won't
and said, That is nothingv You scarcely
recovered from your wound, and you return to
the hospital whence have just now mmoned
you"
During these words of praise the good nun
held her head modestly cast down. with her eyes
fixed her crucifix that hung by her side.
Then the General made her kneel down and
drawing his sword. touched her lightly with it
three times the shoulder and pinned the
Cross OF the Legion Of Honor on her habit, say
ing with quivering voice:
Il put upon you the cross of the brave, in the
name of the French people and army; no one has
gained it by more deeds Of heroism, nor by life
completely spent in sef-abnegation for the
benefit Of your brothers and the service of your
country. Soldiers! present arms!'
The troops saluted: the drums and bugles rang
out the air was filed with loud acclamations and
all was jubilation and excitement, as Mother
Mary Teresa rose up, her face suffused with
bushes, and asked: General have you finished
mel"
YES" said he
well, then, am going back to my wounded
soldier in the hospital"